Family, Friends, Idols and New Idols – all in one night!

Last night was one of firsts for me and I loved every minute of it. At the last minute I was encouraged to enter the WFNB – Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick Children’s Literature Contest which was targeted toward teenagers. Only a few weeks before the deadline I challenged myself to see what I could come up with and lo and behold – it’s the start of my next novel!

“Blood Day” has been receiving such rave reviews and I’ve been asked too many questions about where this 4000 word story is going to lead next not to explore the possibilities. Jennifer McGrath Kent, a local New Brunswick author who judge the WFNB Children’s Literature Competition had this to say about “Blood Day”:

This story grabbed me from the first line. Its elegant narrative, with its haunting imagery and echoes of gothic pathos, held me captive to the end. Blood Day’s supernatural thread takes an unusual tangent, making this an intriguing and enticingly original read. It is obvious that there is much more to this story still waiting in the wings…and I, for one, can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Wow! This from an author that I admire even though I have yet to meet? I finally felt vindicated as a writer as this competition was judged blindly (names we’re on the stories) and McGrath Kent doesn’t know me well at all. This was after the writing group I belong to, WIN, gave wonderful critiques and urged me to “finish it”.

Last night a WordSpring I was invited to read my winning entry with all the other award winner’s and I traveled with two very talented writer’s and my husband to the event. I was already in the presence of the up-and-coming but entered into a world of up-and-came and other up-and-comers.

Chad Pelley, a multi-award winning author from Newfoundland who graced the stage first to read from his novel Away From Everywhere. That was one act I was nervous to follow but then soon realized they all were! All the WFNB award winner’s brought their amazing talents to the stage and I finally have to think I belong there just as much as the others.

I made some lasting connections, even as the introvert standing nervously in the corner, and know I’m on my way. I know I’ll be entering next year and attending almost no matter the circumstances!

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland